I was disappointed to read Mike Wolcott’s Sunday column, where he cited the local social media crime page as an indicator of what is wrong with our state.
It would be bad enough if that page simply reported every call they hear on the police scanner, but that’s never been their point. The actual point is clear in the comments Mike cited:
“…crazed man…(2400 block of Park Ave very close to Comanche Creek)”
“… Out with a well known male transient at W. 3rd & Cherry St”
“…Registered sex offender transient arrested in Chico today”
This site has been blaming most crime on “transients” for years, although many calls about the homeless are because they are literally there. “There’s a homeless person(s) behind my house, in the alley, by the creek,” but “It’s the transients™” has proven an effective dog whistle for the community.
Not to mention, sitting and listening to police scanners all day is an inherently unhealthy activity. It fosters an exaggerated sense of danger and lacks meaningful context. Presented as in that group, it feeds paranoia and ugly stereotypes, presenting the homeless as criminals and drug addicts, which is not reality.
Chico PD has repeatedly released numbers showing crime is down overall and in most categories since the last time Chico had a conservative majority council in 2017. There are many flaws in our criminal justice system worth discussing, but this group only exemplifies the dangers of fear, paranoia and the chicanery of social media echo chambers.
— Angela McLaughlin, Chico
"danger" - Google News
May 11, 2021 at 03:27PM
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Letter: Crime page exaggerates sense of danger - Chico Enterprise-Record
"danger" - Google News
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